Horror Movie Review: Elf in the Hood (2024)

First, we had Leprechaun in the Hood and now we have Elf in the Hood, not that they are similar, aside from the diminutive stature of the star. I only mention the Leprechaun franchise as it’s one of the rare examples of a character going to ‘the hood’. Unless you count Amityville in the Hood, but who the bloody hell is doing that?

Written and directed by Jamaal Burden, Elf in the Hood stars Michele Chavez, Sabina Gavrilov, Taylor Latham, Kerry Walker, and Tiffanie Williams.

Malik and Jada owe Silk, a drug dealer, a lot of money. The debt, racked up by Jada’s now dead sister, has been passed to the couple and they are desperate to find a way out of the mess they are in. Cue a mysterious elf doll that sure looks like it might be worth a bit of money (it doesn’t, but in the context of the film we shall play along), so of course, they take it so they can sell it.

Unsurprisingly, this elf doll is no ordinary doll though, and actually houses an evil supernatural spirit. It’s Christmas Eve and a vengeful drug dealer isn’t the only thing that Malik and Jada must worry about now.

A humdrum story, but one told in solid fashion, Elf in the Hood doesn’t have an original bone in its body, but Jamaal Burden puts some effort in to make it memorable. Partially, by focusing on a real-world aspect (drugs and the impact they have on communities), and partially by keeping the characters realistic. While there’s nothing particularly well-developed here, they do at least feel real.

These are positives but aren’t what most are looking for when they press play on a horror film called Elf in the Hood. We’re all here for a tiny puppet going on a killing spree and, hopefully, delivering some festive puns along the way.

Which is what we get, but not quite to the level most would want it to be. Yes, there’s violence, gore, and one-liners, but most of what we get here is groan-worthy. Not just lacking inspiration, but lacking memorability.

In a strange move, Elf in the Hood does have moments where it seems to be trying to be a really serious film. With a stronger story, this wouldn’t be a problem as the comedic moments would be good relief, but here, the tone shifts are just jarring.

Something made even worse by how many unnecessary ‘talky’ scenes exist. It never quite reaches boring stages, but it certainly does skirt the line a few times. Overall, it’s better and more entertaining than expected, but it’s also wholly unremarkable.